We just toured the Regatta and it was a wonderful day. First, we were sent to the Horizon Lounge which is on Deck 10. It’s absolutely the most beautiful and comfortable Observation Lounge ever! Sofas and chairs have large colorful pillows, sheer drapes adorn the windows and there is a combo and dance floor.
The specialty restaurants, Toscana and Polo Grill are on the same deck and they both offer their own bar area and luxurious seating with fabulous menus….no extra charge of course. In between the restaurants is the largest library I’ve seen on any size ship and also the most inviting. It was like an English Manor drawing room, with bookcases and books piled upon tables, a central fireplace with sofas and love seats, again with comfy pillows propped everywhere…wanted to stay there,
The Lobby area is stunning with its double staircase in wrought iron and gold, carpeted in red and black. Surrounding the area are oversized chairs and sofas inviting you to sit and chat. When you ascend the grand staircase, feeling as if you’re in “Gone With the Wind”, you enter the Upper Hall which has boutiques, a beautiful Grand Bar and a very inviting Martini’s Bar and a very small casino. Forward is the lounge which also has a dance floor. There is a wonderful feel of casual elegance all over the ship. Aft is the Grand Dining Room which is also lovely and we enjoyed a multi course delicious lunch with white glove service. The cuisine on Oceania Cruises is considered one of the very best at sea.
I would certainly wholeheartedly recommend Oceania to all but the under 40 set as there are not a lot of different venues as offered by the larger ships.
Oceania Cruises runs wonderful promotions throughout the year including 2 for 1 rates, free airfare and more. Call us at 800-942-3301 for more details on the latest Oceania Cruise deals.
I just came back from sailing onboard the Oasis of the Seas today. I have been fortunate enough to preview a lot of ships over the years, but never have I seen so much media presence and excitement among those on-board. Crews and TV personalities from several shows including Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight were there to capture the world’s largest cruise ship. Rihanna performed a live concert in the Opal Theater for VIP guests and contest winners.
In the coming weeks we will be writing several blogs – one for each of the seven neighborhoods onboard the ship, giving you important details about dining, entertainment and more, as well as providing you video of each neighborhood, so that you can see the ship first hand.
For today, I merely wanted to share my overall impression of the Oasis of the Seas. Although I realize that this size ship is not for everyone, Royal Caribbean achieved their vision of creating a personal experience for each cruiser. Guests can stroll bustling boulevards and entertainment districts, lounge around the pool or relax in a tree filled park. The ship is organized in such a way, that each neighborhood seems to transport you to a new destination. I applaud Royal Caribbean for their innovation!
Meet Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Independence of the Seas, the third in our spectacular Freedom class of ships. Seasonally ported in Southampton, England for part of the year, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida the rest of the year, this ship offers all of the amazing onboard experiences you’d expect from our Freedom Class of ships, while cruising to your choice of destinations in Europe or the Caribbean.
Ship Highlights
FlowRider®
H2O Zone
Cantilevered whirlpools
Rock-climbing wall
Ice-skating rink
Royal Promenade
Extensive WiFi capabilities and connectivity for cell phones
Last November we were booked onboard the NCL Pearl in a mini-suite. We were given the opportunity to purchase an upgrade at a reduced cost for a courtyard villa or a deluxe owners suite. The pressure was on to make an immediate decision, so I went online to look at both cabins. Both offered various upgrades and amenities, but the deluxe owners suite was exclusive…there were only 2 available on the entire ship. What to do? I showed my husband who saw the name of the suite “Black Pearl” and he was hooked. I think he pictured himself as “Jack Sparrow” from the Pirates of the Caribbean.
The minute we arrived onboard, we had a special area for check in. It was a nice lounge with just suite guests offering refreshment as opposed to the long line at the port. In minutes we were checked in and personally escorted to the ship.
The cabin was beautiful. Very typical lively NCL colors but quite spacious, and the view was amazing. We could see the entire pool deck area from our balcony, and speaking of balcony, it was huge. We had a private Jacuzzi as well as a table, several lounge chairs and an oversized couch for lounging that was covered if you didn’t want the sun but enjoyed the ocean breeze. There was a lap top for our use although there was a charge, as well as a complimentary mini-bar stocked with bottled water and sodas and an espresso/cappuccino machine. All were refilled daily as needed.
Service on the ship was great…we were treated like VIP’s. Even if restaurants were completely booked up, when they asked what cabin we were in, somehow a table opened right up. Obvsiously onboard they thought we paid full price for the suite! The concierge will make restaurant & shore excursion reservations, and help you with just about anything you need. During show, there is a special section blocked off for suites and villas which was very nice as there was no need to arrive early to get a good seat.
Overall our cruise experience was very nice… the cabin service was wonderful and we loved the various dining choices every night. The Bistro, Steakhouse were excellent and do charge a cover charge, however the Italian and Tex Mex which have no charge, were also very good. Embarkation was very smooth.
If you can afford it, or are lucky enough to get offered a reduced rate to upgrade, booking a courtyard villa or above offers lots of onboard benefits, but there are a few things to consider about the “Black or Golden Pearl” cabins.
#1. Private Jacuzzi yes, heated – no, so the water was warm at best.
#2. Entertainment by the pool is wonderful when you are in the mood, but in those two suites, you constantly hear the reggae music - not great if you want to take a nap to recharge for the evening activities. Also don’t forget to close the shades, as the suite offers a great view to the pool, but the view also allows people to look back into your cabin…no flashing please!
#3. The huge balcony is wonderful, but days at sea the cushions are put away and everything is tied down so it does not become dive wreckage in the Atlantic ocean, so you cannot use them.
#4. The private stairway is steep! No one with trouble walking due to health reasons (or drinking) can get up those stairs. All villas and suites do offer access to the private courtyard area which has a pool, hot tub and Balinese-style lounge chairs under a retractable glass roof. You cannot go wrong with any of these cabins.
#5. When seas are rough, there is a lot of motion since the cabin is so high up.
All villas and suites do offer access to the private courtyard area which
has a pool, hot tub and Balinese-style lounge chairs under a retractable
glass roof. You cannot go wrong with any of these cabins.
For more pictures of the Norwegian Pearl visit my Flickr account
For the latest Norwegian Cruise Deal, click here.
The Solstice is Celebrity’s largest ship, & can accomodate 2,850 passengers. From the staterooms, restaurant & bar decor, to the over 6 million dollars in art displayed…the ship is beautiful! It is a large ship, with an intimate feel.
Cabins: Celebrity used the input of women when designing their staterooms & it shows. Five boomer women, identified by the line as “Celebrity’s Leading Ladies,” specially selected for their distinct points of view – a frequent cruiser, a travel agent, a travel writer, a hotelier and a cruise considerer. The end result is a room with neutral colors & a great lay out. The bathrooms are larger than most ships with glass enclosed showers & shelves for storage space. The bed is high enough to store luggage underneath, and has a comfortable mattress & sheets. The closets had cubby holes, plenty of room for hanging clothes on both sides an over-sized safe. A large and comfortable cream-colored leather couch, which converts to a bed, occupies one side of the living area. On the opposite side is an attractive armoire with five drawers; a small refrigerator; several areas for storage; a makeup/desk-like area with large mirror and chair; and a large 32-inch Samsung flat-screen. Regular channels including CNN, Espn & TNT as well as an Art & Travel Channel. If you don’t find anything of interest, there is also free on demand & pay per view movies. You can also see the room service menu online, connect to the internet via a keyboard provided in your room or listen to music channels that offered an array of genres including country, children, jazz, hip hop & classical. For a larger balcony, book a Sunset Verandah (Cat 1A) Not interested in a balcony? Inside & ocean view balconies offer the same spacious bathrooms & closets.
There are 30 handicap accesible cabins (inside & balconies – no ocean view) Upgrades include push button entrance, higher beds & two level closets.
Aqua Class cabins are similar in design to the balcony cabins, but are adjacent to the spa area. Guests have added perks including a pillow & aroma selection, Hansgrohe shower panels & an exclusive dining room: Blu. A Spa concierge will assist guests with booking spa treatments. Guests in these cabins also receive perks such as complimentary bottled water, daily canapes, & a dedicated television channel with special programming, including music chosen by therapists for relaxation.
Suites: Penthouse, Royal, Celebrity & Sky feature enhanced amenities and services. They’ll all have a long list of butler-style extras, such as packing and unpacking; full menu meal service for breakfast, lunch and dinner; free espresso and cappuccino. Also included are two complimentary dinners at the alternative restaurants of your choice.
Restaurants: Celebrity cruises is synonymous with world class dining. The Grand Epernay, main dining room is gorgeous with a two story glass wine tower & dazzling chandeliers. Service is excellent & there are a number of tables for two if you arrive early. Murano which is also on Celebrity’s Millennium class ships, serves modern French cuisine. Menu choices include lobster, duck & alaskan crab. You can reserve a private room for a party of 8 in their wine cellar area. Silk Harvest, offers Asian food including sushi as well as a fusion of Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese & Indian dishes. Tuscan Grill is an upscale steak house with an Italian influence, so you can enjoy Caesar salads prepared tableside, an antipasti bar, Kobe beef & a variety of steaks, all paired with a robust list of fine Italian wines. Blu is the restaurant included for all Aqua Class passenger. Menu selections include seafood, herb crusted lamb & steaks, using healthier methods of preparation (i.e. no heavy sauces or fried items). Room service is available 24 hours per day for something as simple as a sandwich or chicken wings, to a romantic dinner for to on your balcony.
Interested in the night life? Relaxing, more intimate clubs offer everything from wine & cognac tastings to smooth jazz. Ensemble Lounge had a live jazz band in the evenings & is located near all of the alternative dining restaurants. Cellar Masters is a wine bar inspired by the vineyards of Napa Valley. Excellent variety of wines sold both by the glass & bottle. Renowned Riedel comparative wine tasting programs will be offered throughout the cruise. A sommelier can assist you in paring the perfect wine for dinner that evening & deliver the bottle to the dining room. Galleria Tasting is a bar off of the shopping area & has several large screen tv’s over the bar. The Art gallery is also located here, offering an extensive art collection for browsing. Michael’s Club has an intimate, pub style setting with a marble fireplace & contemporary artwork. The piano player entertained with music from Bill Joel & Elton John as well as more modern music. The most popular bar on our cruise was the Martini bar inspired by water, ice & snow. Choose from over 100 types of vodkas, or order your favorite drink & watch the bartender’s “show” while they prepare cocktails. There is also a futuristic nightclub called Quasar & late night live entertainment in the Sky Observation Lounge.
A two-story retail shopping area offers wonderful window displays & surprisingly reasonable prices. Shop for men’s & woman’s designer fashions, as well as jewelry, fragrances & accessories.
The pool area has several canopies if you like to lounge around but not be exposed to the sun. Get there early, as these fill up. There is also canopy seating around the solarium pool. The solarium is for adults only. Live music throughout the day & fountains synchronized to music makes the pool area come to life. Upper pool deck area has a bar & casual dining on burgers, hot dogs & nachos.
The Lawn Club was bigger than I expected (over 1/2 an acre.) Lots of comfortable seating around the lawn area for those that just want to watch the activities. There will be two courts for bocce ball, a putting range & an area for picnics. Corning Museum has an area off of the Lawn Club with glassblowing artists that conduct live glassmaking demonstrations, lectures & workshops. Right behind the Lawn Club was the Patio & Sunset bar offering wonderful views of the ocean with music playing in the background.
The Aqua Spa offers Elemis products and is one of the largest we have seen at sea. There are 17 massage/treatment rooms, hair & nail salon, as well as the Parisian Gardens which are exclusive to Aqua Class guests. Services include waxing, hair styling, manicures & pedicures as well as massages & body treatments.
There is a Fun Factory & Teen (“Xclub”) with computers, Wii, arcade games & more.
Celebrity has a winner in the Solstice, and they were betting on that, with 3 new identical ships already on order: the Equinox sails in 2009; Eclipse for 2010 & a 4th vessel yet to be named planned for 2011.
I invite you to take a look at my pictures taking during the 2 day Inaugural cruise Nov. 12th – 14th.
Holland America Line is proud to announce the arrival of our new Signature Class ship ~ ms Eurodam! Holland’s newest vessel has a capacity of 2,105 guests & offers new premium facilities & amenities not available on any other HAL ship. Features include 56 spa rooms that include in-room amenities including organic cotton robes & slippers, aromatherapy bath salts, yoga mat, pedometer, fitness DVD and spa concierge. All other staterooms provide Signature of Excellence permium amenities such as plush Euro-top Mariner’s dream beds. Egyptian cotton towels, flat panel Tv’s with DVD players, make-up mirrors with halo lightsing & massage shower heads. There is a new pan-Asia restaurant called Tamarind with a menu created by Master Chef Rubi Sodamin. A 2nd new onboard dining venue is Canaletta, serving casual Italian cuisine. Throughout the cruise, the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine offers cooking demonstrations & classes in its state-or-the-art show kitchens.
I just came back from sailing onboard the Oasis of the Seas today. I have been fortunate enough to preview a lot of ships over the years, but never have I seen so much media presence and excitement among those on-board. Crews and TV personalities from several shows including Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight were there to capture the world’s largest cruise ship. Rihanna performed a live concert in the Opal Theater for VIP guests and contest winners.
Last November we were booked onboard the NCL Pearl in a mini-suite. We were given the opportunity to purchase an 
The minute we arrived onboard, we had a special area for check in. It was a nice lounge with just suite guests offering refreshment as opposed to the long line 
Service on the ship was great…we were treated like VIP’s. Even if restaurants were completely booked up, when they 
Holland America Line is proud to announce the arrival of our new Signature Class ship ~ ms Eurodam! Holland’s newest vessel has a capacity of 2,105 guests & offers new premium facilities & amenities not available on any other HAL ship. Features include 56 spa rooms that include in-room amenities including organic cotton robes & slippers, aromatherapy bath salts, yoga mat, pedometer, fitness DVD and spa concierge. All other staterooms provide Signature of Excellence permium amenities such as plush Euro-top Mariner’s dream beds. Egyptian cotton towels, flat panel Tv’s with DVD players, make-up mirrors with halo lightsing & massage shower heads. There is a new pan-Asia restaurant called Tamarind with a menu created by Master Chef Rubi Sodamin. A 2nd new onboard dining venue is Canaletta, serving casual Italian cuisine. Throughout the cruise, the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine offers cooking demonstrations & classes in its state-or-the-art show kitchens.
